The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-03-28
merry POLE" and Doc sat and watch.

merry pole" and Doc sat and watch
ed her.
These were stirring Times. Men ant
women shattered the letters OF con
ventionality and grew from boys te
men and from girls to women witt
marvellous rapidity.
At n candy pulling Doc pulled candy
with her. The way OF it was that they
all played Lonesome, and they need
ed one more to be the lonesome
one," and he was induced, much
against his will, to join. His success
emboldened him, and so the boy and
the girl pulled candy, and both were
so painfully conscious % their own
youthfulness, that they pulled III 81
lence.
Lucy's brother John was nearly
eighteen. He was dutiful boy, and
his mother was q widow. He worked
for her and for Lucy, and they lived
well.
Again spring gladdened the earth
with her spirituelle beauty. But there
was not much boisterousness at the
annual "logrolling" as usual. intact
there were very few logrollngs. Moth.
ers and daughters and younger sons
pulled the fallen trees together the
best they could and burned them.
Women in big sunbonnets, kept from
Hopping over their eyes by wooden
"splits' inserted in the crown, grasped
the plowhandles, while "tucking
strings" girded about their waists
h.. usl. Mt IN, hn
dirt. All, they were made OF superior
mettle, these women OF the barrens
were.
That spring we had to work
great deal harder and had less time for
fishing than before, Doc helped us.
He was Industrious, though still
weakling compared with other lads.
The first time ] saw him twirl
strand OF golden lovevine over his
head and cast it on the bushes. was
amused. Doc told me that he had
named it "Lucy Paxton" and il it
grew, he would know that she loved
him. and ii not, he would be disap.
pointed. lie was getting too deep for
our philosophy then,
4 whole year rolled away, and on
the next spring ! saw that the love
vine reappeared and grew on the bush
es. Doc saw it too, and he was pleas
ed-greatly pleased He was not an
ardent lover. lie worshipped at n
distance. The young fellows who
came home on furloughS were very
gallant and deierential toward Lucy.
This must have worried Doc, but he
never gave any sign.
Then came that call for men; that
plucklng Of the very flower of south
ern chivalry. Oh, remorseless war!
John Paxton was eighteen, and he
must 20 to the war; and leave his
mother and Lucy to fight the harder
battle at home. The enrolling Of
iicer," that agent OF war whose APP
proach was dreaded so much he told
us that.
When he left Doc followed him out
to the gate. After short talk, the
officer departed, after shaking Doc by
the hand.
"Tve learned somethin'," he said,
with a radiant lace when he came
back "The enrolling officer says that
John can stay at home ii he can get a
substitute. I'm gwine to be his sub.
stitute"
OF course John Paxton did not
want to agree to the proposition. 1t
looked unmanly for him to stay and
send n little fellow like Dick. But the
latter argued, 81 amt got nobody to
keer for, an ii git hurt nobody'll be
the loser,
You've got Mis- Paxton and-and-
Lucy" he stammered, an You ought
to stay an make the crap. Besides |
want to cit to be a big giner'l, some
time, maybe an then l'll-l'll-well, |
want to 90, anyhow, an Pm agwlne as
your substitute And he went.
Poor little Doc Friend and play.
mate OF our childhood. His delicate
form that had been so nourished and
cherished by his doting mother-and
our mother had loved him rs one OF
her own-when they brought him home
wasted with privation and hardship,
and the hectic fever burned on his
cheeks, he looked very much like our
little old Doc. It was spring
time again then. There was
lull in the wild tempest OF war.
Bronzed and bearded our heroes came
home. Bowed with defeat tattered
and torn, ragged veterans OF n hun
dred battles. There were so many
heroic deeds that the recital OF daring
achievements grew commonplace.
They did not like to talk about it.
Our Doc had been every inch of n
soldier. He had acquitted himself
nobly. He was going to die, rs so
many stronger men had died, without
a stain upon his escutcheon. 1t was
Lucy Paxton's hand that plucked